(CNN) - Missouri attorney, Republican Ed Martin, who was considering a run for Senate, announced his candidacy for Congress Monday in the state's newly redrawn 2nd district.

Martin's move is further evidence that Republican Rep. Todd Akin, who currently holds the seat, is likely to run for Senate against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. State Treasurer Sarah Steelman is currently the only declared Republican in the Senate race.
Martin, who served as chief of staff to former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, lost his 2010 Congressional bid for the 3rd district seat to Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan. Carnahan's district was largely eliminated through redistricting and portions of the eastern district were folded into the newly configured 2nd district.

In April, former Ambassador to Luxembourg and candidate for chair of the Republican National Committee, Ann Wagner, announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the district seat.

Martin considers himself a supporter of the Tea Party movement and attended the first St. Louis Tea Party gathering during the midterm elections. In Monday's video announcement, he criticized Carnahan and the current leadership in Washington while adopting positions typically held by the Tea Party movement; he railed against health care reform, the rising national debt and increased government intervention.

"For too long in Washington D.C. we've seen a Congress that has made decisions that make no sense," Martin said in the video posted on his website. "Elected officials like Russ Carnahan have been focused on growing their power and enriching themselves instead of remembering our families and safeguarding the American dream."

Andrea Bozek, Regional Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the 2012 Republican field of "super stars is impressive."

"Voters will have a clear choice between a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi's blank check to China or a Republican candidate who will fight to balance the budget, cut spending and reduce taxes," Bozek said.

Following his announcement, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a press release that highlighted his failed bid for Congress, linking him to scandals in the administration of Governor Blunt.

"Ed Martin's credentials are in corruption, scandal, and pure political self-interest," Haley Morris, a press secretary of the DCCC said in a statement. "Martin is so focused on his own opportunism, he can't see the facts: Missouri families have already rejected him."

soundoff(13 Responses)

Rudy NYC

Who's that? I dunno. I would bet Martin a good soldier, but not as good as soldier as Akin.
Translation: A good soldier knows how to communicate the party talking points without demonstrating original thought.

May 9, 2011 11:24 am at 11:24 am |

Fair is Fair

Best of Luck to you, Ed Martin, in your quest for this congressional seat.

McCaskill is toast in the now solidly red bellweather state of Missouri. Sayonara, Claire.

May 9, 2011 11:27 am at 11:27 am |

The Day of Financial Reckoning is HERE - The Great Democrat Welfare Society Ends

Let the shellacking begin! Going to be a LOT of new Republicans in the House and Senate in 2012.

May 9, 2011 11:32 am at 11:32 am |

Wes B.

Good to know he already has his talking points down pat. Unfortunately, there's no truth behind them. More Republican lies.

May 9, 2011 11:37 am at 11:37 am |

diridi

It is becoming like India, all these Attorneys are selling "Onions", no practice, so he is running....but wasting time...even Harvard Grads are not finding jobs, who cars this dude....waste....waste, and sheer waste...

May 9, 2011 11:41 am at 11:41 am |

Rudy NYC

Election Day, 2012: The Day of Political Reckoning – The Great Corporate Welfare Society Ends.

May 9, 2011 11:43 am at 11:43 am |

Randy999

Martin is just another Know Nothing Republican wanna-be. He has no ideas, just talking points. We need to elect some people who can think for themselves and work for the country rather than for their party. Hope he loses BIG!

May 9, 2011 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

The Day of Financial Reckoning is HERE - The Great Democrat Welfare Society Ends

Translation: A good soldier knows how to communicate the party talking points without demonstrating original thought.
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As all of Nancy Pelosi and Hary Reid's liberal zombie comrades know all too well! Luckily there will be far fewer of them to deal with after 2012.

May 9, 2011 11:49 am at 11:49 am |

gt

claire is running so fast away from obama you would think she is running as a republican,,,,,,

May 9, 2011 11:59 am at 11:59 am |

The Day of Financial Reckoning is HERE - The Great Democrat Welfare Society Ends

Democrat and Obama socialism does not fly too well in Missouri, nor in many of the other states that expect and demand fiscal responsibility. Nor do a nearly two thirds of Americans support Obamacare and the forced purchase of a product. They want Obabacare REPEALED and that will only happen with a Republican House, Senate and Whitehouse. These two items alone will result in the huge lose for the Democrats in 2012. 2010 was just the warm up! The grand finalle will be in 2012!!

May 9, 2011 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |

Rudy NYC

The tyranny of capitalist imperialism does not sit too well with the American public. The American people feel totally betrayed by the Republican Party in case some of you have not noticed. Conservative ideology has lost its' running legs, but more importantly, it has lost its' credibility and trust with the American voter.

The GOP field of candidates knows all of this all too well, which is why the announcements have been so slow and coming this season.

May 9, 2011 12:24 pm at 12:24 pm |

The Day of Financial Reckoning is HERE - The Great Democrat Welfare Society Ends

The tyranny of capitalist imperialism does not sit too well with the American public.
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Right, because it has made this country the greatest country the world has ever known. How is your champion, the USSR, doing these days?

May 9, 2011 12:28 pm at 12:28 pm |

Rudy NYC

Right, because it has made this country the greatest country the world has ever known. How is your champion, the USSR, doing these days?
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Right?!?! You like that phrase, do you? Okay Funny that you mention the USSR. Capitalist Imperialism was deeply admired by Lenin. Try googling "Hobson-Lenin Thesis". He admired western style capitalism and wanted to bring it to Russia. He knew it would not be accepted, so he embraced the "Russian Social Democratic Labor Party", instead. But, he never gave up his dream of Capitalist Imperialism.